Traction-wheel.



S. S. MORTON.

TRACTION WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1914.

' Patented June 29, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET1.

S. S. MORTON. TRACTION WHEEL. APPLICATIONHLED JUNE 29, I914- 1,1M,378.Patented June 29, 1915.

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v 3 m W 5 n e I w fl xq :T T Q N N N x w v 3 '3 ins w T N @uuentoiJazz/d pfzyarim SAES Application filed June 29, 1914. Serial No.848,014.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL STEPHEN MORTON,citizen of the United States, residing at Harrisburg, in the county ofDauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Traction-Wheels; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to improvements 1n traction Wheels and isespecially adapted for use upon vehicles propelled by mechanlcal powerand designed for carrying heavy loads.

The object of the invention is to provide a wheel of this character soconstructed that one-fourth of the circumference is in flat engagementwith the ground at all times,

and in which the load is evenly distributed as the wheel revolves nomatter whether the surface over which the wheel is passing be smooth orrough.

Another object is to provide a traction wheel in which the spokes andtread elements are so mounted that slipping is pre vented and shocksabsorbed. 7

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts aswill be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a side elevation of awheel constructed in accordance with this inventlon; Fig. 2 is an edgeView thereof with some of the spokes in section; Fig. 3 is a verticalsection taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 1s a transverse verticalsection taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment illustrated a casing 1s shown composed of two disklike steel plates 1 and 2, each having a centrally disposed openingsurrounded on its outer face by a hub member 3 preferably made integraltherewith. These disks have inturned peripheral edges whereby they arespaced apart when assembled. A central chamber 4 is formed from whichradiate spoke sockets 5 providedwith reduced portions 6 at their outerends, a shoulder 7 being formed at the junction of each of the reducedportions with the body of the socket. The larger body portion of thesockets is of a width corresponding to the length of a plurality ofSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1915.

rollers 8 adapted to be disposed in the central chamber 4 and to extendinto the inner ends of said sockets 5 fora purpose to be described. Anannular flange 9 extends inwardly from the inner face of each of thedisks 1 and 2- near the hub ortion thereof and forms a base or supportor the rollers 8 above referred to. The disks 1 and 2 are securedtogether by a plurality of bolts extended transversely therethrough nearthe periphery thereof between the spoke sockets and also by other boltswhich extend through said plates near the hub portion inside thepartition formed by the flanges 9. Any desired number of spoke sockets 5may be provided, 12 being here shown, and in which are slidably mountedspokes 10, the diameter of which corresponds to or is slightly less thanthat of the reduced portions 6 of the sockets. Blocks, 11 are mounted onthe inner ends of these spokes 10 and are adapted to slide 1n the largerbody portions of the sockets and are adapted to engage the shoulders 7which limit the outward movement of the spokes. The free ends of thesespokes 10 have balls 12 formed thereon which are adapted to revolublyengage correspondingly shaped sockets 13 formed in the tread elements14. The tread elements 14 are here shown substantially inverted cupshaped and are provided in their outer faces at the center thereof, withrounded cavities 15 which form a portion of the sockets 13, the otherortion thereof being formed by cap mem- )eIS 16 secured to said invertedcup shaped tread elements, said cap members being here shown providedwith laterally extending flanges 17 which overlap the inverted cupshaped members 14 and are riveted thereto. These cap members 16 arepreferably made in section to facilitate the assembling of the parts.

The weight distributing elements 8 which are here shown in the form ofrollers, are

. arranged transversely in the chamber 4 and in the larger portions ofthe sockets 5 and are adapted to move in and out to distribute the loadproperly on the spokes carrying the tread elements which engage thesupporting surface for the wheel. It is to be observed that a certainquantity or number of rollers 9 must be employed suflicient to permitthe operation above described to take place- For instance should thechamber be filled with rollers they could not serve as weightdistributors; neither would they opcrate if an insuflicient amount wereused, approximately one twelfth, more or less, of the chamber should bevacant.

The reduced outer portions 6 of the sockets 5 are each provided with apacking 19 designed to retain the heavy grease and graphite used forlubricating the spokes and to apply it to them in their movement intoand out of the sockets.

Forming a ball and socket connection between the spokes 10 and the treadelements or feet 14-, adapts the spokes to adjust themselves to smoothor uneven surfaces and the cup shape of said elements adapts them toretain their position wherever placed without danger of slipping. Thisconstruction of s oke and tread elements adapts it as a shoc absorberalso, for instance, should the wheel pass over a hole in the road, oneor two of these feet will shoot down into the hole without permittingthe axle to drop as is the case with wheels as ordinarily constructedand it operates similarly when passing over projections in the road asthe spoke which passes over the projections will slide inward withoutraising the axle or it will raise it a slight distance only. Theconstruction of this wheel also especially adapts it for use on a plowedfield or soft road as it does not pack the surface over which it passes,and thus requires less power to operate it.

I claim as my invention l. A traction wheel comprising a casing having aplurality of radially extending spoke sockets reduced at their outerends, with shoulders formed at the inner ends of said reduced portions,spokes slidably mounted in said sockets and provided on their inner endswith enlargements operating in the larger portions of the sockets. treadelements mounted on the free ends of said spokes and having a universaljoint connection therewith, and load distributing frictional engagingelements mounted in said casing at the inner endof said spokes, andpartially filling said casing.

2. A traction wheel comprising a casing, having a central hub, a chambersurrounding said hub, radially extending spoke sockets communicatingwith said chamber, spokes slidably mounted in said sockets, means forlimiting the outward movement of said spokes. load distri -iutingrollers disposed in said chamber and adapted to extend into said socketsand filling about eleven twelfths of said casing, and tread elementsengaged with the free ends of said spokes by ball and socket joints.

3. A traction wheel comprising a casing composed of two disk like plateshaving registering central hub portions, an annular partition withinsaid casing surrounding said hub portion, a plurality of radiallyextending socket members formed in each of said plates, those in oneplate adapted to register with those in the other when the parts areassembled to form spoke sockets, spokes slidably mounted in saidsockets, cooperating means on said spokes and the inside walls of saidsockets for limiting the outward movement of the spokes and inverted cupshaped tread elements mounted on the free ends of each of said spokesand havling a ball and socket connection there- Wit 1.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL STEPHEN MORTON Witnesses:

IRWIN M. GAssELL, EZRA C. CASSELL.

